Railway brake beam



May 5, 1959 s. J. WALKER RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1954 May 5, 1959 s. J. WALKER 2,885,036

RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1954 May 5, 19 59 5;. WALKER 2,885,036

RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 9, 1954 RAILWAY BRAKE BEAM Samuel J. Walker, Lake Forest, 11]., assignor to Qhicago Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, llll., a corporation of Illinois Application luly 9, 1954, Serial No. 442,328 11 Claims. (Cl. 188-2231) The invention relates to railway truck type brake beams and particularly to the hangerless type of beam in which the ends of the beam extend beyond the brake shoes and are slidably mounted upon truck frame brackets or similar supports.

The main object of the invention is to simplify and strengthen the beam and particularly its end portions, the beam being economically constructed of rolled steel sections, such as U sections or angles, and requiring a minimum of castings, which add to the cost of a beam.

Another object is to avoid the necessity for right and left brake beads by adapting the beam to mount the same head at either end of the beam.

These and other detailed objects are attained by the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a beam embodying the invention and slidably mounted upon the side frames of a truck and applied to the truck wheels.

Figure 2 is an end view of the left hand end of the beam shown in Figure 1, but drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a substantially horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a substantially vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 77 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 88 of Figure 1, but drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 9 is an end view and vertical transverse section taken on line 99 of Figure 12 and showing another form of the invention.

Figure 10 is a substantially vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a substantially horizontal section taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.

The beam includes a compression member 1, a tension member 2, a strut 3, end members 4 and, in the complete assembly, brake heads 5. The compression member is a shallow, U-shaped section with relatively wide, horizontal webs 6, .7, disposed substantially horizontally and having upturned and downturned flanges 8, 9, respectively, at the inner side of the truss and opposing the tension member.

The tension member preferably is a flat-sided bar which is relatively wide horizontally and relatively shallow vertically throughout its length and each of its end portions 10 is received between compression member webs 6, 7, and projects beyond the ends thereof, the projecting part of the tension member being upset or thickened at 11. so that the part is of the same vertical depth as the compression member and is provided with shoulders 12 abutting 2,885,036 Patented May 5, 1959 ice the ends of the compression member horizontal webs. The terminal 13 of the tension member is somewhat reduced in depth. (Figure 4).

The end member 4, which in use is slidably mounted on truck frame brackets B, constitutes a U-shaped wear plate receiving the terminal 13 and the thickened part 11 of the tension member and also receiving the end portions of the compression member webs 6, 7.

The brake head 5 corresponds to brake heads in general use but is recessed to provide a pocket 15 receiving the ends of the compression and tension members and the inner ends of end member 4.

In the arrangement shown, the compression member terminates at the middle vertical plane of the head (Figure 4-). A rivet 16 passes through the inner flanges 5a of the brake head, the end member 4, the compression member webs 6, 7, and the tension member end portion 10. A pair of rivets 17 pass through the outer flanges 5b, the end member 4, and the thickened part 11 of the tension member.

This construction makes a secure assembly which is lighter in weight than an arrangement in which the compression member is relatively deep throughout its width and in which the compression member extends to the outer side of the brake head.

As shown in the drawings, (Figures 5 and 8) the geneneral plane of the beam, as determined by the compression member, the tension member, and the strut, is disposed horizontally, but the compression member 1, end members 4, and terminals 10 of the tension member are inclined from the general plane of the beam so that the beam may slide in a plane inclined to the horizontal general plane of the beam during application and release of the brakes. This arrangement facilitates the application of the brake heads and shoes to a portion of the wheels W below the level of their centers, although the brake forces are applied to the beam through horizontally disposed pull rods 18 (Figure 8) and a lever 19. To accommodate this arrangement, strut 3 has its major portion in the general plane of the beam and of tension member 2, while its rear end is inclined downwardly at 3a to receive compression member 1, and the webs and flanges of the latter extend from end to end without distortion, which would tend to aflect their accuracy and strength.

Figures 9-12 illustrate another form of the invention in which the compression member of the truss brake beam comprises two separately formed angles having relatively wide legs 20 and 21, respectively, disposed in the general plane of the beam, and relatively narrow legs 20a and 21a, extending upwardly and downwardly, respectively, from the horizontal legs. Legs 20a and 21a of the compression member are at the outer side of the truss and extend lengthwise of the truss from outside to outside of brake heads 26.

The tension member 22 corresponds generally to the tension member previously described and is received between compression member flanges 20 and 21, and projects beyond the ends thereof, where it is upset or otherwise thickened at 23 and is provided with shoulders 29 abutting the ends of the compression member legs 20 and 21.

The U-shape end member 25 corresponds to that previously described and receives between its legs the compression member flanges 20 and 21 and the end portion of the tension member.

In this arrangement, the compression member angles extend throughout the width of the brake head and rivets 27 secure the head to all of the other parts while rivet 27a secures the compression and tension members together. Spacers 28 are placed between angle flanges 20 and 21 at intervals throughout the length of the beam, and the flanges and spacers are secured by rivets 27b.

The compression member flanges 20, 21 and tension member bar 22 lie in substantially the same general horizontal plane throughout their length and the strut (not shown) is in the same plane throughout its length, but the compression member flanges 20, 21 and the end portion of the strut could be disposed angularly of the general plane of the beam, as previously described.

The beam structure may be varied other than as shown without departing from the spirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modifications coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member with vertically spaced substantially horizontal web portions at its ends, a tension member comprising a flat-sided bar which is relatively wide horizontally and relatively shallow vertically throughout its length and has its opposite flat sides in surface-to-surface contact with the adjacent horizontal web portions of the compression member and projects therefrom longitudinally of the beam to support the beam from an adjacent truck bracket, the projecting end portions of said tension member corresponding in width to its intermediate portion and being thickened and shouldered to engage the ends of said compression member web portions, a brake head having a through transverse passage extending lengthwise of the beam with its walls fitting closely around the end portions of the compression and tension members and holding them assembled with each other, and vertical rivets extending through the brake head and the end portions of said compression and tension members and securing them together.

2. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member with vertically spaced substantially horizontal web portions at its end, a substantially fiat tension member with an end portion at its end, said end portion having its opposite flat sides in surface-to-surface contact with the adjacent horizontal web portions of the compression member and including a part projecting beyond the ends of the latter, and a U-shape wear plate adapted to slidably support the beam on a truck part and receiving between its legs the projecting part of the tension member end portion and the end portions of the compression member, the brake head having a hollow body portion fitting closely around the end portions of said compression and tension members and the end portions of the legs of said wear plate, and vertical rivets extending through said head body portion, and the end portions of said compression and tension members and said wear plate.

3. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member with vertically spaced substantially horizontal web portions at its end, a tension member with an end portion at its end received between and embraced by said web portions of the compression member and including a part projecting beyond the ends of the latter, with said part being thickened to bring its top and bottom surfaces to the levels of the top and bottom surfaces of said compression member webs, said part being shouldered to abut the ends of said compression member webs, and a wear plate adapted to slidably support the brake beam on a truck bracket and comprising a fiat plate bent into a U formation and overlapping the thickened part of the tension member and the adjacent ends of said web portions of the compression member, a brake head having a transverse passage with its walls fitting closely around the end portions of said compression and tension members and the overlapping parts of said wear plate and engaging the latter, and rivets extending through the brake head, compression and tension member ends and wear plate ends and holding them together.

4. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member with vertically spaced substantially horizontal web portions at its end, a tension member with an end portion at its end, received between and embraced by said web portions of the compression member and including a part projecting beyond the ends of the latter with said part being thickened to bring its top and bottom surfaces to the levels of the top and bottom surfaces of said compression member webs, said part being shouldered to abut the end of said compression member webs, a brake head having a recess receiving said compression member web portions and the corresponding part of the tension member, and vertical rivets through all of said brake head, compression member web portions, and tension member part.

5. A railway truss type brake beam as described in claim 4 in which the compression member web portions terminate with the brake head, and the tension member part projects outwardly beyond the outer side of the brake head to support the beam upon a truck frame bracket.

6. A railway truss type brake beam as described in claim 4 which includes a brake head secured near one side to the compression member web portions and projecting therefrom lengthwise of the beam and secured near its other side to the projecting part of the tension member.

7. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member with vertically spaced substantially horizontal web portions at its end, a tension member with its end fitting between and embraced by said compression member web portions and projecting lengthwise of the beam beyond the end of the compression member and there thickened to have its top and bottom surfaces flush with the top and bottom surfaces of said compression member horizontal web portions, a wear plate comprising a single flat plate having a U form and receiving between its legs the projecting part of the tension member and the adjacent end parts of said compression member web portions, a brake head having a recess receiving the inner end of said U-shape wear plate and said parts of the tension member and compression member, said compression member terminating adjacent the middle vertical plane of said head, and a rivet through said head, wear plate, compression member web portions, and tension member, and another rivet through said head, wear plate, and the projecting part of said tension member.

8. A railway truss type brake beam comprising a compression member and a tension member, said members including relatively wide and relatively shallow webs disposed substantially horizontally, a strut between said members intermediate their ends, there being substantially vertical flanges on said compression member webs along the edges thereof nearer to the tension member, the tension member end portions being in surface-tosurface contact with the adjacent compression member webs and projecting beyond the ends thereof and beyond the ends of said vertical flanges to support the beam from a truck part.

9. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member comprising a pair of separately formcd elongated elements of angular cross section disposed with substantially horizontal flanges adjacent to each other and with substantially vertical flanges diverging, there being spacers between said horizontal flanges, rivets securing said elements and spacers together, a tension member with an end part extending between and secured to the end portions of said compression member flanges and pro jecting beyond the ends of said flanges to support the beam from a truck bracket, and a brake head having a through passage receiving the end part of the tension member and the ends of the horizontal and upright flanges of the compression member elements.

10. A railway truss type brake beam as described in claim 9 which includes a U-shaped end member receiving between its legs the end part of the tension member and the ends of said compression member horizontal flanges, and rivets extending through said end member legs and said end part and horizontal flanges.

11. In a railway truss type brake beam, a compression member comprising a pair of separately formed elongated elements of angular cross section with substantially horizontal flanges disposed adjacent to each other and with vertical flanges diverging, the end portions of the adjacent horizontal flanges being spaced apart vertically of the general plane of the beam, a tension member with its end portion extending between and secured to the end portions of the compression member and including a terminal projecting beyond the ends of the compression member to support the beam from a truck part, there being a wear plate of U-shaped section at each end of the beam receiving between its legs the projecting terminal of said tension member and the adjacent end portions of the horizontal flanges of the compression member shapes and forming a brake head seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Handiges July 14, 1903 Busch Aug. 12, 1939 Walker et a1. June 14, 1949 Busch Dec. 6, 1949 Busch Jan. 10, 1950 

